Last week, we reported that the Fantasia International Film Festival was hosting “Rated X: An Evening with Bryan Singer” where the director would talk about his life and career. They were also showing footage from his upcoming movie, X-Men: Days of Future Past, and it turns out they showed the same trailer from Comic-Con (you can read our recap of that footage here). During the conversation, Singer provided some details on Days of Future Past, but also gave his thoughts on his previous movies as well other pictures including X-Men: The Last Stand, Man of Steel, and Star Trek.

Regarding the previous X-Men movies, he said that he prepared for the first one by watching all 70 episodes of the animated series, which is probably one of the reason I found the 2000 film so enjoyable (although it does have some problems, and they could have been the result of the production being rushed due to a release date that was moved up by six months). Singer also said he had serious issues with editing one time, and although he didn’t specify the movie, it was likely the first X-Mensince that’s the only one he hasn’t done with John Ottman. According to JoBlo, Singer was locked out of the editing room for three days because he smashed a bottle on the wall after having such a big fight with the editor (X-Men had three editors, and Singer didn’t specify which one). He also says Russell Crowe was willing to play Wolverine, but didn’t get the role because he wanted to play it bald.

Moving on to the X-Men movie he had nothing to do with, X-Men: The Last Stand, Singer had both praise and criticism for Brett Ratner‘s movie. Singer wished they hadn’t killed off Cyclops, but he did like the casting of Ellen Page for Kitty Pryde. As for why they can resurrect Professor X and not Cyclops, Singer vaguely explained they “Could justify bringing Xavier back because he transferred his consciousness and could possibly construct a body around that consciousness.” I’m not sure if this means Xavier can never die, or if this was just a one-time thing. Also, if he can construct a new body, then why not construct one that can walk?

Moving on to Days of Future Past, Singer reiterated that the future stuff will take place ten years after The Last Stand, but most of the movie will be set in 1973 with the First Class cast. JoBlo reports, “You find the characters in very different places than you saw them in First Class.” It also won’t be the happiest of X-Men movies, but it has a good message of people trying to right wrongs. Furthemore, even though Quicksilver will be in the movie, don’t expect to see his sister Scarlet Witch. Singer also confirmed that Josh Helman will play a young William Stryker. Finally, the movie is being shot in 3D, so at least we don’t have to worry about a crappy post-conversion.

Singer also talked about other films and franchise. When asked about Man of Steel, he simply says it was a very different film, and “a total re-conception of the Richard Donner movies”. He also said that he found Henry Cavill to be a charming Superman. The director also says his “super-sequel” to Superman Returns would have been a bit like Man of Steel with the eponymous superhero fighting off an alien threat.

Commenting briefly on Jack the Giant Slayer, Singer denied that it was “creatively compromised”, and he’s proud of the movie, but didn’t think the studio did a great job of distributing it.

Finally, for those who don’t know, Singer is a huge Star Trek fan, and he even has an uncredited cameo in Star Trek: Nemesis. But when it comes to directing a Trek movie, Singer balked at the idea, saying that because he’s such a big fan, he would be too precious with the material, and J.J. Abrams is a better fit. That’s almost a crazier idea than a bald Wolverine.